When Sterling Hitchcock’s balky back acted up Thursday night during a bullpen session in Baltimore, the probability of his landing on the DL for a second time this year became a real possibility.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Joe Torre said before last night’s Subway Series opener. “But it doesn’t look good because it has been so long.”

Hitchcock hasn’t pitched since June 15 at Shea Stadium, when he worked 1 1/3 innings and gave up four runs due to muscle spasms in the middle of his back. Last week in Denver he told Torre that chiropractic sessions had made him available, but he didn’t pitch in San Diego or Baltimore.

If Hitchcock, who started the season on the DL with a lower back problem, has to be shelved, the Yankees can recall lefty Randy Choate, who was sent out Thursday. A player has to wait 10 days to be recalled unless there is an injury.

“I have been right 10 days the whole year,” a dejected Hitchcock said. “I thought I would have 100 innings by now, not 100 pitches. I am minute to minute, at least it seems that way. I had an adjustment [yesterday] but it’s going on three weeks.”

Signed to a two-year deal worth $12 million, Hitchcock is 1-0 with a 7.48 ERA in nine games (two starts).

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Shane Spencer left Yankee Stadium late yesterday afternoon for tests on his left hand. Spencer suffered the injury making a diving catch in Baltimore Thursday night and the hand stiffened overnight. The results of the X-rays weren’t available at the start of the game.

Karim Garcia, promoted from Columbus (Triple-A) Thursday, made his Yankees’ debut last night in left field. Torre started John Vander Wal in right.

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The Yankees already were a man short before Spencer came up lame since Ron Coomer wasn’t at the Stadium. Coomer is suffering from a pinched nerve and muscle spasms in the left side of his neck. Torre doesn’t believe he will have the utility infielder until tomorrow at the earliest.